Our company heritage

The history behind HellermannTyton

Paul Hellermann was inspired by the tiny rubber tubes in bicycle valves

Wherever power flows along a wire or data is transferred along a fibre optic cable, a HellermannTyton product is never far away. Built on an inventive legacy that began in Germany in 1935, the company is now one of the leading global manufacturers and suppliers of products used to fasten, fix, connect, insulate, protect and identify electrical and data cables in buildings, in the ground, in machinery, and in vehicles.

HellermannTyton still sells products like the ones founding father Paul Hellermann invented to protect cable sheaths from damage. Inspired by the tiny rubber tubes in Woods/Dunlop type bicycle valves, he probably didn't imagine just how big his 1935 Hamburg start-up would grow when he started marketing his three-pronged pliers and chloroprene rubber sleeves.

Today, the HellermannTyton brand is synonymous with a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality products, cable management expertise and professional service to engineers and technicians around the world.

1935–1959

From the Hellermann Binding System to plastic cable ties

The Hellermann Binding System was the best friend of early cable harness makers

Electrical wiring in the early 1930s was encased with rubber and bound with cotton thread. Paul Hellermann (1886–1958) devised an ingenious system for easily stretching rubber sleeves over the cable sheaths to prevent the ends from fraying.

Paul Hellermann GmbH was founded in 1935 in Hamburg. The company manufactured and sold three-pronged pliers and chloroprene rubber sleeves and grommets in various sizes.

In 1938, Hellermann extended his business to the UK in a joint venture with Jack Bowthorpe (1905–1978). As wiring became increasingly complex, Hellermann Electric Ltd. and a string of Bowthorpe Hellermann companies were ideally placed to serve the wiring needs of the booming post-war aerospace, automotive and electrical industries. The company was one of the first to offer a numeric marking system on coloured cable sleeves.

Before his death in 1958, Hellermann sold his original company and shares in the British partnership to Bowthorpe, under whose leadership the company was quick to adopt plastic injection moulding and extrusion technology. It was precisely the right time to capitalise on the advent of the plastic cable tie.

1935

Paul Hellermann GmbH established on 14 December 1935, Kirchenallee 57 in Hamburg (Germany).

1936

Hellermann Binding System patented.

1937

Hellermann three-pronged pliers patented.

1938

Hellermann Electric Ltd. established, Purley Way, Croydon (UK).

1940

Bowthorpe-Hellermann companies relocated to Oxford (UK) for duration of the war; German site moved to Moorende 6/8 in Hamburg.

1942

First rubber cable markers for aircraft manufactured in Oxford.

1944

Bomb damage forced German factory to relocate to Große Bleichen 23 in Hamburg.

1960–1979

Cable ties take off and the Tyton System is a runaway success

At the start of the 1960s, building on a decade of expertise dipping plastics, the Bowthorpe Hellermann companies were quick to adopt plastic injection moulding technology. The Insuloid Manufacturing Company from Manchester – one of the UK’s first specialised manufacturers of cable ties made from thermoplastic (polyamide 6.6, or ‘nylon’) – was acquired and amalgamated into Hellermann Ltd. in 1964. The Insulok LK range of cable ties became the foundation of the T-Series ties, still sold by HellermannTyton today.

Meanwhile, the German side of the electrical business headed by chief engineer Heinrich Kabel continued to build on Paul Hellermann’s inventive cable management legacy. This work culminated in the 1965 launch of the highly successful ‘Tyton’ tool – the first continuous strap binding system. The derivative ‘Kabelrap’ cable tie and KR application tool that followed two years later are still sold today.

The widespread international acclaim earned by Tyton and Kabelrap was reflected in the globe added to the modernised company logo from 1967.

When sister companies were established in the United States in 1969 and in Japan in 1970 these businesses were registered under the name Tyton.

1960

Hellermann in Germany moved to a purpose-built factory in Pinneberg outside Hamburg.

Tyton Company of Japan established in Tokyo and Hellermann do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda established in São Paulo (Brazil).

1978

Hellermann Electric moved to new, purpose-built facility in Plymouth (UK).

1979

Production facilities extended at Pinneberg (Germany).

1980–1999

Cable management demand sparks international expansion

Fastening, fixing and marker expertise was the foundation for success in all industries around the world

Demand for more and more specialised cable harness components increased dramatically with technological advances in aircraft, vehicles, industrial plant and telecommunications.

The company began adding customised product development and highly-skilled thermoplastics engineering to its offering in key markets. It also embarked on an unprecedented phase of international growth. By the end of the 1990s, Hellermann had established local representation in 27 countries and extended its manufacturing capabilities to all global regions.

1980

Business acquired in Norway.

1981

Business established in Singapore.

1982

Warehouse added to six manufacturing operations in Manchester (UK); business established in Sweden.

First specialised cable mounting bracket produced for automotive customers.

1992

Production facilities in Trappes (France) opened.

1994

Business established in Mexico.

1995

Business established in Italy; first thermal transfer label system and TT1000 printer launched.

1996

Business established in Hong Kong.

1997

Business established in China with purpose-built production facilities opened in Wuxi; business also established in The Philippines and Thailand and acquired in Austria CEE; Autotool 2000 launched.

1998

Business acquired in Argentina and in Spain/Portugal; TipTags launched.

1999

Worldwide name changed to HellermannTyton (27 countries at this time); new purpose-built production facilities opened in Manchester (UK).

2000–today

Steady growth, consolidation and focus on key industries

The HellermannTyton brand is synonymous with quality cable management products and service

The new millennium commenced with the introduction of the harmonised company name “HellermannTyton” for all business units around the world.

A strong reputation as a manufacturer and supplier of quality cable management products and success as a development partner for custom thermoplastic components has enabled HellermannTyton to consistently outperform baseline economic growth year-on-year. Manufacturing capacity has been successively increased in step with customer demand in all global regions.

The company floated on the London Stock Exchange in March 2013. Just over two years later, Delphi Automotive Systems PLC made a successful bid to purchase the company. HellermannTyton was subsequently incorporated into the Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture division in December 2015.

Since the parent company’s realignment as Aptiv PLC in December 2017, HellermannTyton is now part of the Signal and Power Solutions division developing cable assemblies for advanced vehicle systems but continues to operate under its own brand.

Besides the automotive sector, HellermannTyton is a key supplier of cable management products to customers in all other industries, especially aerospace, rail, white goods, renewable energy and electrical installation.

2000

HellermannTyton Data UK acquired; business established in Denmark; purpose-built production facilities opened in Tornesch (Germany); new production facilities opened in Johannesburg (South Africa); detectable plastic MCT cable ties launched for food industry.